Government Warns Councils Against Four-Day Week Despite Promising Trial Results
Introduction: A Growing Debate Over Working Hours
The four-day working week has become a contentious issue in UK local government, with profound implications for public service delivery, employee wellbeing, and taxpayer value. Local government secretary Steve Reed has written to all council leaders in England warning them not to introduce the shortened working pattern, despite evidence suggesting potential benefits. This debate matters to millions of residents who depend on council services and the thousands of workers delivering them.
Government Takes Firm Stance
Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has written to local authorities, stating that they could be considered to be failing if workers receive a full week’s wages for four days of work. Reed emphasised that ‘council staff undertaking part-time work for full-time pay without compelling justification’ would be considered an indicator, among a wide range of factors, of potential failure. A Labour source said: “Voters deserve high standards and hard work from local councils, and seeing council staff working a four-day week just won’t cut it.”
South Cambridgeshire’s Pioneering Approach
South Cambridgeshire District Council has voted to become the first Council in the UK to permanently adopt a four-day week – after rigorous independent analysis showed most services got better or were maintained, with significant improvements to recruitment and retention. Under South Cambridgeshire District Council’s four-day week, staff are expected to carry out 100 per cent of their work, in around 80 per cent of their contracted hours, without reduction in pay.
Independent analysis from the Universities of Salford, Bradford and Cambridge highlights how 21 of 24 services they monitored have improved or stayed the same since four-day week working began at the Council in 2023. The number of applications for jobs at the Council rose by more than 120 per cent during the four-day week, and the number of workers leaving fell by more than 40 per cent.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
Twenty-five councils have discussed a four-day week policy, indicating widespread interest despite government warnings. The 4 Day Week Foundation and the Autonomy Institute are partnering to launch a new four-day week Pilot Programme for local councils in 2025. This clash between government policy and evidence-based trials raises fundamental questions about workforce management, productivity measurement, and the future of public sector employment in an era of recruitment challenges and evolving work patterns.